The Basics
The Drake softball team returns to the diamond early in the week for a conference doubleheader against Bradley. The original doubleheader duel between Drake and Bradley was scheduled for Tuesday this week, but was bumped up to Monday with forecasted showers in the Des Moines area throughout the week. First pitch for game one is slated for 3 p.m. from Buel Field.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs have had a sluggish start to their conference season with a record of 1-8. Drake was swept by Evansville this past weekend at home and was also swept on the road at Illinois State. The Bulldogs went 1-2 in a road series against UIC for their lone MVC win of the season so far. Overall, the Bulldogs are 7-22 and will look to kick a four-game losing skid and pick up their first home win of the season when they host the Braves.
One of the top producers at the plate for the Bulldogs this season has been freshman
Pearson Hall. The West Liberty, Iowa native leads Drake in hitting with a .341 average and also ranks second on the team in home runs (4) and RBI (14).
The Bulldogs have tallied 48 doubles on the season as a team and are led in that category also by Hall with eight. Hall is tied for 11th in the MVC with her eight two-baggers on the season.
Scouting Bradley
Monday's matchup brings together the bottom two teams in the current MVC standings with Bradley sitting just above Drake with a conference record of 3-9. The Braves are coming off a series win over UIC, however, where they scored 36 runs in three games. Overall, Bradley is 9-25 on the season and has an away record of 2-14.
For the Braves, Austin Comstock has been a steady presence in the lineup leading the team with a .343 hitting clip. Comstock has started all 34 game this season and has tallied seven doubles, seven home runs, and 22 RBI while also leading Bradley with .620 slugging percentage.
The Bradley pitching staff has a trio of arms led by Abby Rusher who had made 24 appearances and 20 starts. Kinsley Robertson and Gianna Hillegonds have tallied 17 and 18 appearances, respectively, mainly used in relief duty. Rusher has logged eight complete games for 107.0 innings pitched with 58 walks and 56 strikeouts.
Drake leads the all-time series over Bradley, 40-16, but the Braves won the season series a year ago from Peoria taking two of three contests. The Bulldogs are 6-4 in their last 10 meetings against the Braves and have defended their home field well with a record of 20-4 in games from Des Moines in the all-time series.
Up Next
Drake will hit the road for the weekend and travel to Nashville, Tennessee to challenge the league leading Belmont Bruins in a three-game series, April 3-4.
